EuroBasket, here are the rounds: Lino Lardo warns Italy

The rounds are in, and Italy is preparing for the European Championships.

Belgium, Czech Republic and Israel: these will be the national team’s opponents in the first phase of EuroBasket Women 2023, to be played in Slovenia and Israel from June 15-25. Groups in Ljubljana and Tel Aviv, final stage starting with the Quarters all in the Slovenian capital.

The Azzurre have been placed in Group B, which will be played in Tel Aviv, and will take the field in the opener against the Czech Republic (June 15), then Israel (on June 16), and finally on June 18 against Belgium. The eventual play-off between second and third place, Lino Lardo’s team would play it in Tel Aviv with one of Spain, Greece, Montenegro and Latvia (opponents from Group A).

“After the good run we had in the qualifiers, we were waiting for this draw,” was the comment of coach Lino Lardo. “It will be a balanced European championship, although it is clear that the favorites for direct passage to the first round are the top seeds. In any case, we have to be ready right away.”

Then Lardo reviewed Italy’s future opponents, “Israel is a fourth-tier team, but they will play at home. This represents an additional stimulus for them to do well. The Czech Republic has always been a competitor of ours, and it is a team to always face very carefully. Belgium in recent years has done very well and deserves all our respect, but I think they can be within our reach. Now it’s up to us to prepare ourselves as well as possible to play this European Championship as protagonists.”

As for the formula of the EuroBasket Women, the first runners-up of the four groups enter the Quarterfinals, the second and third runners-up face each other in the play-off that is worth access to the top eight. The final phase of the competition (Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals) will be played entirely in Ljubljana.

The top six teams from the European Championship will advance to the Pre-Olympic tournament, scheduled for February 2024 ahead of the Paris Games. Should France finish outside the top 6, only the top 5 from EuroBasket Women would qualify to the Pre-Olympic.

Group A (Tel Aviv): Montenegro, Latvia, Spain, Greece

Group B (Tel Aviv): Belgium, ITALY, Czech Republic, Israel

Group C (Ljubljana): Germany, Great Britain, Slovenia, France

Group D (Ljubljana): Turkey, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia